Cancer Sun Sign - Zodiac Signs - Article by Astrology.com Cancer Sun Sign - Zodiac Signs BY ASTROLOGY.COM NOVEMBER 20, 2009 03:39 PM EST Share Share Share Cancer, the fourth sign of the zodiac, is all about home. Those born under this sign are 'roots' kinds of people, and take great pleasure in the comforts of home and family. Cancers are maternal, domestic and love to nurture others. More than likely, their family will be large, too -- the more, the merrier! Cancers will certainly be merry if their home life is serene and harmonious. Traditions are upheld with great zest in a Cancer's household, since these folks prize family history and love communal activities. They also tend to be patriotic, waving the flag whenever possible. A Cancer's good memory is the basis for stories told around the dinner table, and don't be surprised if these folks get emotional about things. Those born under this sign wear their heart on their sleeve, which is just fine by them. The mascot of Cancer is the Crab, and much like this shelled little critter, Cancers are quick to retreat into their shells if it suits their mood.

No wonder these folks are called crabby! For Cancer, it's not that big of a deal, though, since they consider this 'shell' a second home (and they do love home). The flip side of this hiding is that shell-bound Crabs are often quite moody. Further, in keeping with their difficulty in sharing their innermost feelings, it can become a Herculean task to pry a Crab out of its secret hiding place. What to do? Give the Crab time -- eventually these folks will come out to play again. When they do, they'll be the first to say so, in keeping with the Cardinal Quality attached to this sign. It's said that Crabs are first to laugh and first to cry, so you can bet they'll fill you in. That shell, by the way, isn't the only tough thing about Crabs. These folks are tenacious and strong-willed and like to get their way. If their well-documented kindness and gentleness doesn't do the trick, however, they're not above using emotional manipulation to make things happen.

If that still doesn't work, they'll just go back to their shell and sulk, or find a way to get back at the source of their pain, since Crabs can be rather vindictive. That said, any self-respecting Crab would tell you that they are ultimately motivated by protecting their home and loved ones, a most noble goal. Cancers are ruled by the Moon -- the Great Mother of the heavens in ancient times. Here on Earth, this is manifested in the Crab's maternal instincts and desire to protect home and hearth. This may appear smothering at times, but that's the Crab for you. The Moon is associated with fertility, too, a quality that is most pleasing to Cancers. The Moon is also the ruler of moods, and Cancers have plenty of those. These folks can cry you a river if they're so inclined, and they usually are. They can be overly sensitive, easily hurt and prone to brooding. Even so, Crabs find it easy to be sympathetic to others and are quick to show their affection. Their intuition is also a great help to them, especially in times of stress. The element associated with Cancer is Water.

Like the rolling waves of the sea, the Crab's emotions can make quite a splash. These folks tend to pick up on things and bring them in, with the outward result ranging from sentimentality to possessiveness. Crabs need to resist the temptation to become selfish or to feel sorry for themselves, since this behavior won't help. On the bright side, Cancers are good with money (although some consider them too thrifty), probably because they value a sense of security. Crabs are also quick to help others and tend to avoid confrontation. In keeping with their nurturing bent, those born under this sign are a whiz with food. A hearty picnic in the park is heaven-on-earth to most Crabs. Cancers often find that a robust workout session is just the tonic for their touchy feelings. Team sports are always nice, since they offer a sense of community; water polo should be elemental to aquatic Crabs. What are their team colors? The Moon is silver and white. Since Cancers have a tendency to be lazy, however, they may need someone to push them out the door. When it comes to the game of love, eager Crabs are devoted, romantic and able to get things going on their own.

Crabs are wise to listen to their gut, since this sign rules the stomach. The great strength of the Cancer-born is the tenacity with which they protect their loved ones. These folks don't ask for much, either: a comfortable home and sense of peace about sums it up. It's that nurturing instinct which makes Cancers a pleasure to be with. Sponsored Link Cancer - The Crab - Astrology - The White Goddess The fourth sign of the zodiac, Cancer has the image of the crab. It is the first water sign. This symbolism, is linked to the womb, birth, motherhood and the birth of all things. Cancer - The Crab - Astrology - The White Goddess Home ï¿½ Divination ï¿½ Astrology ï¿½ Cancer - The Crab Cancer - The Crab Cancer - The Crab - 21 June - 22 July A Feminine, Cardinal Water Sign. The fourth sign of the zodiac, Cancer has the image of the crab. It is the first water sign. This symbolism, is linked to the womb, birth, motherhood and the birth of all things.

The zodiac in the baptistry of Parma Cathedral, from the 13th century, Cancer is represented by a crayfish. In other mediaeval zodiacs the tail is often overlaid with the halo of the archangel Gabriel, linking baptism with the spiritual world. Cancer is often called the 'house of the mother', linking it to the physical and spiritual experience of birth. Cancer Cancer Zodiac Sign Symbol: Its Meaning and Origin Get a free online I Ching reading. The 64 hexagrams of the ancient Chinese I Ching, The Book of Change, and what they mean in divination. Books by Stefan Stenudd: Tarot Unfolded The imaginative reading of the Tarot divination cards focuses on what impressions the images and their symbols give. Several spreads are presented, as well as the meanings of all the 78 cards and their pictures. Click the image to see the book at Amazon. Life Energy Encyclopedia Qi (chi), prana, pneuma, spiritus, and all the other life force concepts around the world explained and compared. Click the image to see the book at Amazon.

Cosmos of the Ancients All the philosophers of Ancient Greece and what they thought about cosmology, myth, religion and the gods. Click the image to see the book at Amazon. Sunday Brunch with the World Maker Fiction. A brunch conversation slips into the mysterious, soon to burst beyond the realm of possibility. Click the image to see the book at Amazon. The Cancer Symbol Its Origin and Meaning in Astrology The above image is the established symbol (also called glyph) for the Zodiac sign Cancer, the Crab. It's a simplified drawing of the crab's rounded shape and two big claws. Both the Zodiac sign and its symbol have been along for ages. The Zodiac division of the ecliptic into twelve parts, each assigned a Zodiac sign, is probably of Babylonian (Mesopotamia) origin. They were very early with astrology, mapping the sky and noting planetary movements thousands of years ago. The Zodiac, very much like the one we know today, might have emerged in Mesopotamia around 1000 BC. But Babylonian astrology is probably far older than that. Crayfish or Crab The Babylonians connected this Zodiac sign to a similar marine species. They called the sign The Crayfish.

But already in Classical Greece, the Crab was established as the name of the sign and the constellation. Still, thorugh the centuries, this crab has been pictured in many different ways, more than a few of them looking more like a crayfish. On the other hand, antique images of animals were often far from photogtraphically exact or even aiming to be. The small constellation of Cancer is not much like a crab. A crayfish with its long body and extended claws is more near at hand. Through history, this has also been a common image, but there have been crabs as well. Several of the Zodiac constellations are equally vague or even more so. Here's the constellation Cancer: As you can see, the formation of the stars suggest - if anything - more of a crayfish than a crab. Below is an antique illustration of the same constellation, where the figure of the crayfish has been added. It's from a 17th century book: Firmamentum sobiescianum, by Johannes Hevelius, 1690.

Cancer in Ink Below is an ink version of the symbol for Cancer, which I did a number of years back in an experiment of using Japanese ink calligraphy (shodo) for old European astrology symbols. I've used these pictures on my astrology websites, mainly for fun and for the odd graphic effect, and I've seen them copied all over the Internet. I'm fine with that, although I think it wouldn't hurt if the source was mentioned. Well, what to do? Anyway, here's that ink again, this time in the original black and white (click on the image to see a bigger version): Cancer the Sign As for the picture commonly used to represent the Cancer Zodiac sign, it's been an image of a crayfish or a crab for as long as that has been its name - probably longer than the symbol described above has existed. Below is one typical example, where the stars of the constellation Cancer have also been marked. It's an illustration from Poeticon astronomicon, a 1482 book by Hyginus. For the header of this website, I combined the symbol for Cancer with an image of an actual crab, which shows the great similarity between the symbol and the actual animal.

The background is a dollhouse, as a symbol of the typical Cancer care for the home and the family. This is a famous Dutch antique doll house made by Petronella Oortman (1656-1716). Here's the whole dollhouse: Zodiac Sign Symbols Here are the symbols (glyphs) of all the twelve Zodiac signs, and links to pages telling more about each Zodiac sign symbol. Grendel Astrology in Grendel | GradeSaver Grendel Astrology in Grendel Buy Study Guide John Gardner noted that the twelve chapters of Grendel correspond to the twelve signs of the zodiac, both in imagery and in the characters featured in each one. Chapter One is Aries, the Ram. It begins with Grendel frightening off a ram that has come too near his territory. In this chapter, the cyclical view of the universe is expounded, as Grendel notes that he is trapped in the "progression of moon and stars." Chapter Two features Taurus, the Bull. A bull attacks the tree-trapped Grendel on his adventure in the outside world. Chapter Three corresponds to the Twins, Gemini.

This chapter discusses double-talk, as the Shaper creates one reality to stand alongside the experienced reality. Chapter Four belongs to Cancer, the Crab, known as a nourishing force in some astrological belief systems. The Shaper 's songs have created and nourished a religion that gives the people a more fixed alternate reality to believe in against their own miserable, hard existence. Chapter Five is the chapter of Leo, the Lion. Leo is known as a dramatist to some, and in this chapter, Grendel seeks to know his role in the greater scheme of things. The dragon offers him a part to play, but Grendel cannot accept that this is his destiny. Chapter Six refers to Virgo, the Virgin, in Grendel's comment, "So much for the harvest-virgin." Unferth the would-be hero attempts to do honorable battle with Grendel, only to have his naive view of life trampled underfoot by Grendel's refusal to fight him. Chapter Seven corresponds to Libra, the sign of balance and conciliation. Here Wealtheow reconciles Hrothgar and her brother Hymgod, as well as their respective warriors.

Even Unferth finds some balance in Wealtheow's compassion toward his ill-charmed life. Chapter Eight introduces Hrothulf , the potential usurper, as a "sweet scorpion," thus connecting to the astrological sign Scorpio. Chapter Nine alludes to Sagittarius, the archer, in the scene of a Scylding hunting and killing a hart with a bow and arrow. Sagittarius is pictured as a centaur, half-human and half-horse, suggesting a need to reconcile two different natures. Here we see the priests attempting to promote a religion that they themselves do not believe, giving the people of the village hope while simultaneously recognizing that such hope is based on false knowledge. Chapter Ten belongs to the pessimistic Capricorn, the Goat. Grendel has reached the nihilism of Nietzsche in his philosophical quest, seeing himself and all others as alone and abandoned in an impersonal universe. Chapter Eleven is the chapter of Aquarius, the Water-Bearer. Aquarians are described as interested in understanding life's mysteries. Grendel has come through his philosophical journey, but he is no wiser other than in the knowledge that no system of thought will satisfy him.

Chapter Twelve refers to Pisces, the Fish. The number two, as well as an inherent dualism, is often connected to Pisces. In this chapter, Grendel fights Beowulf, his opposite number, and is defeated by the latter's empiricism. Thus, his universe of one has temporarily become a universe of two, and this duality ends by destroying him. Cancer: The Crab & The Scarab | The Alchemical Journey The Alchemical Journey Cancer: The Crab & The Scarab By admin | Published: June 15, 2010 Cancer the Crab We are familiar with the sign of Cancer being associated with a crab through the Greek and Roman traditions. Indeed the Latin word cancer means crab, and this well-known crustacean expresses the Cancerian temperament very well. It lives on the cusp of earth and sea, scuttles sideways, cautious in its movements and has a protective shell covering the soft vulnerable flesh within. In order to grow, the crab must periodically shed its shell and grow another.

The crab rocks to and fro with the ebb and flow of the tide, which is itself pulled by the ever waxing and waning moon, just as the typical Moon-ruled Cancerian will tend to be pulled more than most by their lunar moods and cycles. I had a lovely vision during last year’s Cancerian weekend of the humble crab actually being the unsung conductor of the moon and the tide, dancing its dance, in tune with the inward and outward flow of life. During our Cancerian Weekend, we actively embody the crab, becoming crab-like in our movements and learning the subtle dance of this unassuming yet symbolically potent creature of the shore. The Beetle with its Ball of Dung For the Egyptians, Cancer was represented not by a crab, but by a scarab (or dung) beetle, sacred to the Egyptians as a creature of immortality. The beetle is clearly linked to the moon’s twenty-eight day cycle. It deposits its ball of eggs, rolled in dung in the earth, for the space of twenty-eight days, which is the time it takes for the moon to complete a full revolution through the twelve zodiacal signs.

The Egyptians considered the twenty-ninth day to be a day of resurrection, and according to lunar markings, there occurs the baptism of the beetle, when the scarabeus casts his ball into the water, opening to give birth to the young beetle. This immersion and baptism became naturally associated with renewal and regeneration. In this way, the lunar god was always declared to be self-created, never born. This symbolism seems to fit very aptly for the sign of Cancer, so seemingly introverted and self-contained. The Scarabeus The Summer Solstice marks the entry of the sun into Cancer in the tropical zodiac on 21st June and we can find this symbolism highlighted through the behaviour of the scarab beetle. The creature certainly carries solar symbolism, perhaps on account of its ray-like head and the dung ball representing the Sun. The scarab-beetle god was known as Khepera and was believed to push the setting sun along the sky in the same manner as the beetle pushes his ball of dung, a scene frequently depicted in various artefacts.

The beetle would, for example, push the dung ball to the top of a sand ridge and then allow it roll down again, a motion that would seem to reflect that of the Sun rising to its zenith in the sky at Summer Solstice before descending again. The scarab can be seen in various depictions apparently holding the sun aloft, suggestive perhaps of the solstice sun. Khepera, The Creative Beetle God Whether as crab or dung beetle, Cancer is always represented as a humble creature, yet one with significant powers, whether as conductor or the moon and tide or as bearer of the Sun. It is easy to overlook the humble being in our quest for success, as Hercules famously did when he crushed the divine crab beneath his clumsy feet as he wrestled with the hydra. The crab was placed in the heavens as a mark of loyalty and service and its placement at the crucial turning point of the Summer Solstice highlights its importance, however unassuming its constellation of stars may be. Its star Acubens is the only one we are ever likely to see in our light-polluted skies. Even in our Glastonbury Zodiac, the Cancer figure is the least prominent and the most easily missed.

Represented as a ship (rather than a crab) its shape is drawn by the waterways created when the land upon which it stands was reclaimed from the sea in centuries past. Walking that figure last year, several of us felt that we were actually walking in the sea – the earth, just a few feet above sea level, seeming to bounce with each step – in this low-down liminal sign where the margin between earth and sea is fragile to say the least. The Cancerian phase of The Alchemical Journey is one of the most profound that we encounter in the wheel. It requires us to drop into a deeper, quieter, more reflective place within ourselves, and to sense the rhythms and cycles that keep us connected to our roots, to our ancestral origins. Cancer is the sign that reminds us of home, and if we are sensitive enough it will help us reconcile our put us powerfully in touch with that eternal longing for return. Cancer in Love - Horoscope Sign Compatibility - The Love Queen Strengths and Weaknesses of Cancer Positive Qualities: Nurturing, healers, supportive, compassionate, unconditionally loving.

Best Quality: Loyalty Shadow Darker Side (weaknesses): Dependent, manipulated by guilt and holds on to guilt themselves, indirect, full of complaints, passive-aggressive, The Cancer zodiac sign is sensitive, moody, loving, motherly and loyal. Affirmation: “I am loved by my family and nurtured by the universe.” Personality of a Cancer Cancer, the Crab, is the fourth sign of the zodiac and the first of the water signs. The Cancer crab begins the season, initiating the summer with the solstice, the longest day and shortest night of the year. As the cardinal water sign, Cancer births the emotions and is associated with the family, the home and the mother. The energy of Cancer is all about the home, the mother and the emotions. Ideally our home and family offer us shelter in which we can feel safe and secure, a place of unconditional love an support. Without the security of home, it is very difficult to achieve any goals. Cancer teaches us to love unconditionally and to be forgiving and compassionate, like a mother. Cancers are natural born worriers, so much so that others can easily read them like a book.

All of their emotions are displayed on their faces, so when worry is present you are sure to know. For a Cancer, emotional security is extremely important. Actually security in all forms is not only important and valued, it is necessary for them. For this reason, A Cancer is a natural at building a business empire from scratch or successfully creating a savings nest. Wealth is valued because it creates security. Wherever a Cancer-born lives, expect it to be very comforting. A Cancer will create an emotionally secure home, the kind of place a lover or partner will want to come home to. They do however have a tendency to be a bit untidy, except in the kitchen, their favorite room of the house. Cancers are excellent cooks … they love to cook, especially for others. Ruled by the moon, Cancer, is much like the shifting of the tides … moody, with a series of contradictions. Like the tides a Cancer is the sign of powerful forces moving under the surface … surface that can be extremely difficult to penetrate because a Cancer-born tend to build-up an elaborate array of defenses to hide their deep feelings and extreme sensitivity.

Considered to be the most caring and nurturing of all the signs, Cancerians are great listeners, with much advise to offer, yet they are very careful about revealing too much about themselves. Crab-like in their indirect approach, a Cancer-born will rarely, if ever take a direct approach. The motion of the crab, is not straight forward. If you ever have the opportunity to observe them on the beach or near the water … you will learn a lot about this sign. Cancer represents the family and home. The crab shell provides shelter, protection and emotional sustenance. A Cancer loves to share the comfort of their shell with others … feeding, nourishing and even offering advice. However, if something insults them, hurts them or otherwise causes an injury or insecurity, they quickly seek the comfort of their shell in solitude. In fact, when depressed or upset for any reason, seeking retreat a common occurrence with this highly sensitive and emotional sign. Cancer will turn into a hermit … a hermit crab … finding comfort, solace and security within the emotionally safe environment they have created for themselves. This gives a Cancer what they need to heal and cleanse the wound with the salty emotional tides of their ruling planet, the Moon.

Once they feel comfortable and secure again, they will come out of their shell or perhaps invite others in. A Cancer can help you to rectify and heal family problems, find security and create a safe environment for growth. They are great at teaching the importance of emotional connections, as well as how to enhance them. The epitome of unconditional love and compassion, a Cancer makes a devout partner and an excellent mother. They are loving, social, romantic and can easily tune-in to the needs of others. Negative Traits of a Cancerean It is easy to feel safe around them, until their natural crabbiness expresses itself … sometimes causing hurtful, crabby remarks to be made to anyone around them while in the darkness of this moon phase. Once you know and understand a Cancers’ moods however, they are easy to predict … then you can give them what they need … a little space. The negative darker shadow of Cancer is their moodiness, attachment to the past and their obsessive worrying at times. Often their imagination gets the best of them, causing all sorts of irrational fears to motivate behavior.

Crabby, over-sensitive and brooding, usually a wound within the emotional body of a Cancer is never really entirely forgotten … although they are forgiving, often the initial hurt is reopened and revisited. They do not like rejection or criticism, and sometimes live in fear of them. The Amorous Nature of a Cancer In love, a Cancer is sensual, affectionate, romantic, sympathetic, imaginative, sweetly seductive, protective, loyal and intuitive. Cautious Cancer does not rush into a commitment with just anyone, but once they do commit in love they are yours forever. Their way of showing you that they like you and are interested in you will never be direct. You must pick up on their subtle clues … on their unspoken invitation. Need Love Advice? Try my recommended Psychics Cancers are extremely nurturing and protective of loved ones. They hold a great potential for commitment, although it will take them some time to make the decision. Deep down Cancer craves a deep emotional connection with a lover that they can create a comforting love nest with together. They become very attached to the one they love and are extremely devoted, especially a woman. Both man and woman Cancerians are capable of great sacrifices for the ones they love … in heroic ways.

There is little they will not do for you if they love you. They are caring, possessive and protective and will most likely want to be spoiled and pampered a bit … especially the females, while male Cancers’ love to do the spoiling and pampering. Fidelity runs deep within the heart of a Cancer. A Cancers’ motive is, if you have an exceptional man or woman in your life, who needs two. They must know that their lover is faithful at all times and although they can be forgiving, they never forget … You can easily win their hearts if you make them feel secure and safe. Once they allow you to get intimate with them emotionally, they will love you for all of time. A Cancerian can never get enough love and approval … they always need more, and always will. This is their nature. Being in a Relationship with a Cancerean It is easy to fall in love with this devoted, affectionate, loyal and protective sign. A Cancer gets very attached to the one they love … even a bit clingy at times. They seek approval of their partner and can even become a bit co-dependent. As with the other water signs, the quality of trust is very important to them in a relationship.

They are cautious about giving their heart away, and need love and security above everything else in life. A Cancer woman will offer undying loyalty to a man who can make her feel secure, holding onto him … leaning on him at times … and yet holding him up, comforting and protecting him emotionally and creating a home that he will never want to leave. Intensely imaginative and emotionally expressive, Cancer has marked remarkable empathy and instinctive understanding of the human heart, especially of its pain. A Cancerian can feel their way into their partners emotions and sense their problems, quickly coming up with solutions before their lover has even verbally expressed their concern. This extraordinary ability to be in sync with other people’s problems and emotions allows them to keep up with everyone’s needs, including their own, keeping everyone happy. Gentle, with great depth, richness and kindness, a Cancer-born needs approval, and lots of it. Compliment them, nurture them with your love and affection … let them know how valued, loved and important they are. They need to hear it, and often. This is the key to getting close to them.

If you shine a light on their good qualities and how much you need them and rely on them, they will feel secure and feel safe enough to step out of the crab shell that protects them from too much vulnerability. Incredibly sentimental, a Cancer loves to collect mementos and take pictures. If you write them love notes, they will treasure them always … They love gifts, keep-sakes and anything that will allow them to reconnect with the joy and emotion of a memory. The nature of a Cancer is to live often in the past during certain phases of their moodiness (or ruling moon), revisiting old wounds. They eventually find a cause for injury … so avoid hurting them and if you do, or suspect that you have, quickly apologize. This will give you an opportunity to actually get closer to them through the mistake. Do not be afraid to show your vulnerability. They will appreciate the trust involved in exposing yourself. Cancer is a sensitive sign. They tend to show their emotions on their faces and will cry during times of great emotion, whether it is because they are happy, sad, fearful, excited, surprised … Their feelings get hurt easily.

If you cannot tell that something is wrong because of the look in their eyes, or the expression on their face, you are sure to know by the way they quickly shut you out. Sometimes they will only need to shut you out temporarily, but sometimes it is more permanent. They retreat quickly when hurt, depressed or angry … you will know if this happens. Express your love, apologize and be patient … Romantic, sensual and deeply emotive, a Cancer will satisfy the every need of their lover. They are a little on the shy side and it will take awhile to open up. For this reason sex will become better with time. Emotional intimacy is necessary for a Cancer to really blossom. Their intuitive ability to connect with their partner turns lovemaking into something of a dance … How to attract a Cancer A Cancer is extremely vulnerable to criticism, as well as praise … admire them and be sure to let them know what you love about them. Never criticise them, especially in the beginning of the relationship. The warmth of your approval is sure to bring a Cancer out of their shell. Compliment them, and do so often, although you want your words to be sincere. A Cancer can easily detect whether you really mean what you say or not.

Nothing attracts a Cancer more than baring your emotional side, exposing your vulnerability. Never criticise or ridicule them … they may shut you out of their lives forever. Feed them, nourish them, love them and listen to them … show genuine compassion and emotional support. Let them see how safe and secure they are with you. Make them feel safe … protect them. Take a Cancer for a walk under the full moon, or to the beach during a full moon. Cancers love to cook and eat … cook together or take them out to a nice restaurant … Do things that stir their emotions and create memories. Cancereans are very sentimental and love gifts. They are very moody and sensitive to there environments, so be sure that they feel comfortable. They have a keen intuitive ability to see through motives, so be honest and sincere. Cancers’ Love Compatibility Combinations A Cancer has some Sun Signs that they get along better with than others, although it is important to consider that the Sun Sign is only a small portion of the imprint that stars make on an individual. Just because a Sun Sign match is challenging, difficult or unlikely does not mean it is impossible.

In reality there is no 100% typical Cancer relationship, as every Cancer is slightly different. The positions of Venus, Mars, Neptune, and all the other planets at the time of birth all influence personality. The most compatible signs with Cancer are generally considered to be Virgo, Taurus, Scorpio and Pisces. Famous Sun Signs in Cancer Mel Brooks June’s Zodiac Sign & “Lobster-like” Crabs | The Index June’s Zodiac Sign & “Lobster-like” Crabs Jessica Savage Constellation of Cancer with “lobster-like” crab or crayfish (?) in calendar page for June. The “crab” is surrounded by feast days of Apostle Barnabas, the Nativity of St. John the Baptist, and the Apostles Peter and Paul. Pierpont Morgan Library, M.355, fol. 5v. (Italian, Veneto or Lombardy, 1386). On June 21st we recognize Cancer, the astrological sign that Richard Hinckley Allen called the most “inconspicuous figure of the zodiac” (Allen, 107).

Representing the sun at its highest point, Cancer is the zodiacal sign of the summer solstice. In ancient Egypt, the Cancer sign was imagined as a scarab beetle, and in Mesopotamia as a turtle or tortoise, both of which may have pushed the sun across the heavens. In Europe, traditionally, the constellation of Cancer was identified with the crab from Greek mythology that was crushed by the foot of Hercules and placed in the sky by Hera. Some have speculated that the characteristic sideways walk of hard-shelled crustaceans, whether crayfish or crab, could be symbolic of the backward shift in day-length after the arrival of the summer constellation in the Northern Hemisphere at the end of June, and Medieval people also believed those born under Cancer’s influence harnessed great, gripping power. At the Index of Christian Art, the label “lobster-like” has been used to describe Cancerian crabs that are not at all “crab-like.” These crustaceans have elongated pincers, chunky claws, and a distinct tail, and they more closely resemble a lobster or a crayfish.

The zoological treatise The Crustacea, published by Brill in 2004, states that, although crabs are the most frequent symbol of the Cancer sign, that the variety of shellfish that adorn horoscopes “can bring surprises” (Forest et al., 173). It is possible that while the symbol of Cancer may draw from a singular iconographic entity which included all shellfish, the idea of a distinct crab, including its spoken and written labels, could be historically transmutable. A definitive explanation for the choice of crustacean in horoscopes might be impossible, but there are some hints as to why “lobster-like” crabs were so pervasive in zodiacal art of the medieval period. Crab scuttling across arc in sky beside personification of sun. Pierpont Morgan Library, M.14, fol. 8v. (Florence, c. 1490). “Cancer,” “Crab,” & “Crayfish” “Cancer” is an ancient word of Indo-European origin from a root meaning “to scratch.” Today Cancer is the scientific Latin genus name for “crab,” but in classical usage it described many species of shellfish.

J.-Ö. Swahn notes in “The Cultural History of Crayfish” that in both Sanskrit and Greek the word for crab had the same meaning as crayfish, both animals having pincers. While the Latin word for Cancer, Carcinus, comes from the Greek karkinos, the English word “crab” has Germanic and Old English roots, and an Anglo-Saxon chronicle from about the year 1000 identified Cancer as crabba (Allen 107). In Old High German (800-1050), kerbiz meant simply “edible crustacean” and was also used to describe crayfish. The OED links the Middle High German (1050-1350) krebz to the Middle French (ca. 1400-1600) escrevisse, which in turn became écrevisse (crayfish). Crab in the June calendar page of the Psalter of New Minster. British Library, Arundel 60, fol. 4v. (Anglo-Saxon, c. 1060).

The OED cites these words for crayfish, through much of their history, were general terms for all larger edible crustaceans. On “lobster,” OED notes some crayfish are called “fresh-water lobsters” and the term “lobster” is applied to several crustaceans of resemblance. Well into the seventeenth century, the word “cancer” and its translations were used as generic terms for all crabs and “lobster-like” creatures until Linnaeus established the species name Astacus Astacus for crayfish in his Systema Naturae of 1758 (interestingly, also with the synonym Cancer Astacus). The OED also noting that the 1656 translation of Comenius’ Latinae Linguae Janua Reserata, described the crayfish as a “shelled swimmer, with ten feet, and two claws: among which are huge Lobsters of three cubits; round Crabs; Craw-fish, little Lobsters.” So, etymologically speaking, crabs, crayfishes, and lobsters were mingled together from very early on.

Star Sign and Sustenance “Lobster-like” crab or crayfish (?) for Cancer on the Gate of the Virgin of the Cathedral of Notre-Dame in Paris. (Paris, c. 1210-1220). In the Middle Ages, the zodiacal symbol of Cancer often appeared in the calendar pages of devotional books, or on adorned monumental sculpture of the Middle Ages. The Index records examples in these mediums (including examples on more than 200 manuscript pages) with the subject heading Zodiac Sign: Cancer. Generally, the depiction of the sign of Cancer as a crab is most prevalent in art from the Mediterranean and Western Europe, possibly due to the proximity to the sea, but the crayfish as a symbol for Cancer is not unusual, even in coastal regions. Crabs are saltwater decapods, creatures with ten feet or five pairs of legs. Crayfish are also decapods, but they thrive in freshwater lakes and rivers. Summer was the best season for fishing, and crayfish were easily trapped along the streams and creeks of rural Europe. The French and the English were the first to incorporate crayfish into their diet.

In boat, two men fishing for crab (of Zodiac Sign: Cancer) on Calendar page for June in the Queen Mary Psalter. British Library, Royal 2.B.VII, fol. 77r. (London, 1310-1320). The Romans had viewed the crayfish as a scavenger animal, and they disliked the taste in their cuisine. Elevated from its lowly status as mere fodder in the classical era, crayfish came to be considered a delicacy in Western Europe from as early as the tenth century. In medicine, the sign ruled over the chest, stomach and ribs, and there are also several medieval pharmacological texts that note the medical properties of the crayfish, including the fact that “If you boil them in milk they cause a good sleep” (Swahn, “The Cultural History of Crayfish,” 247). We know that Europeans were using crayfish in their recipes and tinctures, so their distinctive form would have been a familiar one. In the blog article “The Crusty Conundrum,” for the Voynich Portal, J. K.

Petersen makes interesting points about the Cancerian crayfish in the 15th century Voynich Manuscript. Petersen reads the Voynich crayfish as anatomically incorrect, with legs attached to tail, suggesting that the artist had been working from traditional representations rather than from life. This idea supports the theory that crayfish were so common in medieval astrological culture that the critters were simply represented from memory! “Lobster-like” crab or crayfish (?) for Cancer. Pierpont Morgan Library, G.4, fol. 7v. (Rouen or Orléans, last quarter 15c.). Sources Allen, Richard Hinckley. Star-names and Their Meanings. New York, Leipzig: G.E. Stechert, 1899, 107-111. Fischof, Iris. “The Twelve Signs,” In Written in the Stars: Art and Symbolism of the Zodiac. Jerusalem: Israel Museum, 2001, 111. Forest, Jacques, J. C. von Vaupel Klein, and J. Chaigneau.

The Crustacea: Treatise on zoology – anatomy, taxonomy, biology: Revised and updated from the Traité de zoologie. Leiden: Brill, 2004, 173. Swahn, J.-Ö. “The Cultural History of Crayfish.” Bulletin Français de la Pêche et de la Pisciculture 372-373 (2004), 243-251. Oxford English Dictionary, s.v. “Cancer,” “Crab,” “Crayfish,” “Lobster,” accessed June 2016, Larkin, Deirdre, “Making Hay: The Zodiacal Sign of Cancer,” The Metropolitan Museum of Art Blog, June 5, 2009, Petrified crayfish from Clermont-Ferrand, France. Oxford University Museum of Natural History. Photograph by the author. Petersen, J. K., “A Crusty Conundrum,” The Voynich Portal Blog, February 15, 2016, “Summer and Crayfish,” The Medieval Histories Blog, June 15, 2016,

Question: Which sign of the Zodiac is represented by a crab
Answer: Cancer